(ThyBlackMan.com) Like inventions are synonymous with Da Vinci, so is hip hop music with Jay Z. He is one of the most successful hip-hop artists in the US and has been placed among the most successful and influential hip-hop artists of all times. Combining rapping, producing and business entrepreneurship has seen Jay Z rise in the hip-hop rank to be one of the most financially successful hip-hop stories the world has seen.
- The Midas touch
Everything Jay Z touches seems to transform to gold, literally. First, he holds the record of most albums by a solo artist to top the Billboard 200 charts at 12 albums. Secondly, he has four number one albums in the Billboard hot 100, is ranked fourth top rapper and 88th greatest artist of all time!
If that is not enough, he co-owns the 40/40 club, has minority stake in the NBA Brooklyn Nets, co-creator of Roca Wear, founder of Roc Nation and Roc Nation Sports, and is a certified NBA and MLB sports agent. He also co-founded Roc-A-Fella records and was CEO of Def Jam Recordings. Jay Z has that magic touch that seems to affect anything he touches.
Born Shawn Carter, he picked up the name Jay Z from his childhood name Jazzy and his mentors Jaz-O as well as the J/Z subway lines. His interest in music was sparked when his mother who raised him and his siblings on her own bought him a boom box to keep him from waking his siblings late at night making beats on the kitchen table.
From that moment on, he has never looked back as he started writing lyrics and free styling. In the late 80s and early 90s Jay Z was involved in many street rap battles with LL Cool J and won most of them. He was also touted to fill in for Jaz-O when he was taking a break while on a show.
Between 1995 and 2000, Jay Z will see immense growth in his career as a rapper releasing multiple albums one notably “reasonable doubt” was ranked number 248 in the 500 greatest hits of all time and it featured Notorious B.I.G. Other albums followed and saw similar credibility and success.
2001-2002 saw the release of blueprint and blueprint 2, which was a double album. Without disappointing, the albums were a major success. The black album followed this in 2003, which coincided with the opening of his 40/40 club. Latter years would see him release blueprint 3 and watch the throne. All through, Jay Z has worked with a myriad of artists and this has added to his street credibility as well as adding to his experience and diversity. Over the years, Jay Z has remained true to his originality and charisma, which has been his main selling point.
- Family and politics
He married Beyonce Knowles in 2008 and they have a daughter Blue Ivy. Jay Z is a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama who in reverse is a big Jay Z fan. He has also used his world tours to raise awareness of the global water shortage. He also pledged a million dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the US. Jay Z loves his private life private and has gone to great lengths to keep his private life away from the public.
Staff Writer; LadyK
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